Storage battery.



No. 741,044. PATENTED OCT. 13, 1903.

G. W. KENNEDY, DEG'D. a. H. KENNEDY, mmms'rm wmx. STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1902. g sHEETs.-SHBBT 1,

H0 ME.

No. 741,044. I I PATENTED OCT, 13, 1903.

' G. W. KENNEDY, DEG'D.

s. H. KENNEDY, ADMINISTBATBIX.

STORAGE BATTERY.

N0 MODEL, APPLIUATION FILED MAR. '21, 1902. 2 3HEET5$HEBT 2,

No. 741,044. Ilia-tented October 13, 1903.

NlTED STATES ATENT l l l CHARLES W. KENNEDY, OF RUTLEDGE, PENNSYLVANIA, SARA H. KENNEDY ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID CHARLES W. KENNEDY, DECEASED; ASSIGNOR OF THREE-EIGHTHS TO EDWARD W. PATTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA.

STO RAG E BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 741,044, dated October 13, 1903. Application filed March 21, 1902. Serial No. 99,292. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: the metallic containing-cells 7, which carry Be it known that I, CHARLES WV. KENNEDY, suitable composite plates 8 and 9, forming, a citizen of the United States, and a resident respectively, the positive and negative elecof Rutledge, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, trodes. The containing-cells 7 are made, prefhave invented certain Improvements in Stor erably, of sheet-lead struck up by suitable age Batteries, of which the following is a dies in the usual manner and shaped to form specification. an angular concaved bottom portionlO, sub- My invention relates to certain improvestantially as shown in the drawings- This ments in that class of storage batteries in cell exactly fits within the non-conducting I0 which a series of cells, trays, or cups are nesttrays 1 and is so shaped as to have an offset ed to form a battery of required size, my preshorizontal portion 11 resting upon the upper entinvention being an improvement upon the surface 6 of the'lower rectangular portion of battery described and claimed in my former the non-conducting trays,while its upper porpatent, No. 630,714, dated August 8, 1899. tion lies directly against the flaring walls of :5 With this improved form of battery I prefer said trays.- When fitted in place, each conto use electrodes made in accordance with taining cell and tray permits the reception the plan described and claimed'in an appliof other non-conducting trays and containcation for patent filed by me July 30, 1901, ing-cells, and the battery may be construct- Serial No. 70,240, although I do not wish to ed from any suitable number of trays and 20 limit myself to such use. It will be undercells fitted in place in this manner. Secured 7o stood, however, that such electrodes should by soldering, burning, or by other suitable have a special shape to conform to the other means to the upper and lower surface of this parts of the battery. containing cell or pan are the plates 8 and My invention is fully illustrated in the ac- 9, forming the positive and negative elec- 2 5 companying drawings, in whichtrodes, respectively. These elements may be Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a batthose which are familiarly known as pasted tery formed of a nest of cells madein accordelectrodes, or they may be plates electroance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional chemically formed substantially as described view of a single separating cup or tray made in my application for patent filed July 30,

30 in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is 1901, Serial No. 70,240. In the present inan elevation of one of the electrodes for use stance I show an electrochemically formed in connection with my battery. Fig. 4: is anplate, the active material being shown at 12. other elevation of said electrode looking in It is essential, however, that the frame of the the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3; and Figs. electrodes be firmly secured to the surface of 35 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate details of my inven-' the metallic containing-cell. Such construction. ,tion provides a space between the plate or In the drawings herewith, 1 represents a electrode on one side of one containing-cell bottomless tray having a rectangular lower. and the plate of the next succeeding cell, portion 2 with comparatively thick vertical which space should be filled in with some non- 0 walls, and 4 represents the upper rectangular conducting material, as shown at 13, and for portion of the tray whose walls flare from this purpose I may use asbestos, wool, or in their connection with the lower portion 2. some instances sand or other finely-divided These trays, which may be made of rubber non-conducting material. or other suitable non-conducting material, I prefer to construct the containing-cells 45 are shown nested in Figs. 1 and 5 and are so with a bottom, substantially as shown and de- 9 5 made that the lower thickened walls project scribed, for the purpose ofreadily dissipattoward the interior of'the tray,forming a shelf ing any air-bubbles that may form in the cen- 6, which affords a suitable support for each ter of the cell and tend to destroyer modify successive. cell or tray, used in forming the the electrical action, and for the purpose of,

5c battery. These trays are adapted to receive readily carrying 0d the air so collected Iprozoo erated by electrolytic action.

Vide the separating trays or cells 1 with cut out portions 14 in the side walls 3 of the lower rectangular portion, and with these cut-out portions I connect tubes 15, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The advantage of having these plates convex on their outer surface is to provide for the ready dissipation and exit of any gas or air bubbles that may form in the battery adjacent to said electrodes. Flat electrodes tend to collect air-bubbles on their under side, and their construction prevents the escape of such bubbles. It is well understood that such bubbles act as an insulator and interfere with the efficient production of the current. By having the inclined surface, however, such bubbles will tend to follow the same, being broken at once by the angle of said plates. Electrolyte is introduced into each separate containing-cell, being maintained at a proper height therein by perforations 16, extending through both the non-conducting tray and the conducting-cell. Such arrangement will serve to prevent splashing or violent overflow of the electro lyte. As these perforations are below the height of the next lower cell, the overflow from one cell will collect in the next lower one. In some instances I may provide a closure for the space around each cell in the nature of a wax or other suitable covering 17, (see Fig. 5,) thereby preventing the slopping over of the electrolyte when the battery is used for vehicles, and this covering is preferably provided with small apertures 18 for the escape of air or any gas that may be gen- In this connection I find that in some instances channels 19 (see Figs. 4 and 8) may be made across the surface of the plates forming the electrodes for the purpose of dissipating or more readily conducting away air or any gas bubbles formed between the electrodes.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a series of cells nested within a suitable container or jar 20, the bottom 21 of which is shaped to form the lower non-conducting tray. In such form of battery it is preferable to assemble a separating medium between the electrodes that will not pack quite so closely as sand, and I also prefer to arrange some means for carrying off the air or gas formed between the several electrodes, preferably the tubes 1.5, described above. Each cell is complete in itself without connecting-terminals, as both a positive and negative electrode are arranged on the inside and outside of each lead-containing cell supported by the non-conducting trays. In some forms of battery I may arrange a pile of cells of any convenient number and use with them at certain intervals non-conducting trays having bottoms, whereby I can connect the cells in multiple. For such purpose of course it will be necessary to provide conducting-strips between such intervening insulating-trays.

In some instances I may prefer to form a battery from a series of non-conducting containing-trays of a shape which combines that of the usual separator-tray and the lead-containing cell-such, forinstance, as that shown at 25 in Figs. 6 and 7. This form of tray is provided with a concaved bottom 10, to which bottom the positive and negative electrodes are secured in any suitable manner, as before described. As this containing-tray is made of non-conducting material, it is necessary, of course, to provide the metallic strips 26 for forming a connection between the respective positive and negative electrodes carried by said trays 25.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a perspective View of a plate made in accordance with my invention to form one of the electrodes and shaped to fit the lead-containing cells 7 of Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5 or the trays 25. (Shown at Figs. 6 and 7.) This plate may be either the positive or negative electrode.

Having thus described my invention,- I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1 1. In a storage battery of the character described, the combination of a bottomless separator-tray, and a containing-cell carrying the electrodes and supported by said tray.

2. In a storage battery of the character described, the combination of a bottomless separator-tray having flaring sides and an inner offset supporting portion, and a containingcell supported by said offset portion of the tray.

3. In a storage battery of the character described, the combination of a bottomless separator-tray having flaring sides and an inner ofiset supporting portion, a containing-cell supported by said offset portion, and positive and negative electrodes supported by said containing-cell.

4. In a storage battery of the character described, the combination of a bottomless separator-tray having flaring sides and an inner offset supporting portion, a containing-cell supported by said offset portion, and positive and negative electrodes supported by said containing-cell, said electrodes being secured to said containing-cell by soldering them to the surface of the same.

5. A separator for storage batteries of the character described, having a lower rectangular portion provided with side supports, an upper rectangular portion having flaring walls, said lower portion having cut-out portions for the freepassage of the electrolyte or any gas-bubbles formed by electrolytic action.

6. In a storage battery of the character described, the combination of a series of bottomless separator-trays, a series of containing-cells nested within said trays, said cells being adapted to receive the electrolyte, and having also,together with the separator-trays, apertures for the passage of the electrolyte from one cell to the next.

7. The combination in a storage battery of the character described, of the bottomless IIO separator-trays, containing-cells having positive and negative electrodes mounted within said trays, said trays and cells conforming to the shape of each other so as to be properly nested, and tubes affording communication between the atmosphereand the space between each positive and negative electrode for the free discharge of any air or gas bubbles formed by the electrolytic action.

8. In a storage battery of the character described, the combination of the separator trays, containing-cells carrying positive and negative electrodes adapted to said trays, and insulating material interposed between the positive and negative electrodes of opposing cells.

9. A containing-cell for use in a storage battery of the character described, having a rectangular bottom V-shaped in cross-section, and positive and negative electrodes shaped to conform to and secured to said cell both inside and outside the same, said electrodes 1 port the lower containing-cell of the battery,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 35 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

CHARLES W. KENNEDY.

WVitnesses:

MURRAY 0. Bovine, J os. H. KLEIN. 

